Show ContentsHutchings History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the name Hutchings come from the Viking settlers of ancient Scotland. The name was derived from Huchon, a diminutive form of Hugh. [1] Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. This name is the equivalent of Hugh in the vernacular of Scotland. Today, the plural form of the name is more popular as in "Hutchins" or "Hutchens," but years ago the singular form was far more common.

Early Origins of the Hutchings family

The surname Hutchings was first found in Ross-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rois), a former county now part of the Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles in Northern Scotland, which emerged from the Gaelic lordship of the Earl of Ross, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

The variants Hutcheon and Hutchon were the most common spellings used in both forenames and surnames in Scotland, as we shall soon see.

"Huchon was used in the thirteenth century instead of Huon as the regular oblique case of Hue. In Scotland during the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries Hutcheoun (ch sibilant) regularly appears as a Christian name, the equivalent of Hugh or Hew in the vernacular. Hucheon Fraser, Lord of the Lovet is mentioned in 1422 and in 1510 a succeeding Lord Lowat is named Heow. Huchon Ker appears in 1467, and Huchown the Ross, 1481." [2]

Just over the border in Yorkshire, England the Yorkshire Poll Tax had two entries for the family: Isabella Huchon, doghter; and Willelmus Huchon. [3] In Somerset, John Huchoun was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) [4]

Early History of the Hutchings family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hutchings research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1471, 1481, 1494, 1497, 1525, 1547, 1548, 1558, 1565, 1576, 1577, 1581, 1590, 1596, 1598, 1602, 1612, 1628, 1629, 1639, 1641, 1642, 1693, 1698, 1705, 1734, 1773 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hutchings History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hutchings Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes most often spelled names by the way they sounded. spelling variations, are thus, very common in records dating from that time. Over the years, Hutchings has been spelled Hutchins, Hutchings, Hutchin, Hutcheon, Huchens, Hutcheons, Hutchon, Houchin, Houchen, Houchens, MacCutcheon, MacQuestion and many more.

Early Notables of the Hutchings family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Edward Hutchins (1558?-1629), English divine, born about 1558 of poor parents, was, according to Wood, a native of Denbighshire. About 1576 he matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford: he graduated B.A. 1577, and proceeded M.A. 1581 and B.D. 1590. [5]Sir George Hutchins (d. 1705), king's...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hutchings Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hutchings World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hutchings is the 3,349th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. [6] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hutchings is ranked the 116th most popular surname with an estimated 304 people with that name. [7] And in New Zealand, the name Hutchings is the 960th popular surname with an estimated 778 people with that name. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Hutchings as 842nd with 8,024 people. [9]

Ireland Migration of the Hutchings family to Ireland

Some of the Hutchings family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hutchings migration to the United States +

The Scottish settlers spread out along the fertile land of the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. They and many of their children went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. That heritage has been recovered by many in this century through Clan societies and other Scottish historical organizations. Archival documents indicate that members of the Hutchings family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Hutchings Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Charles Hutchings, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 [10]
  • Sarah Hutchings, who landed in New Jersey in 1675 [10]
  • William Hutchings, who settled in Boston in 1679 with his wife
Hutchings Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Hutchings, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [10]
Hutchings Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Hutchings, aged 39, who landed in New York in 1812 [10]
  • Abraham Hutchings, who arrived in New York in 1835 [10]
  • Abram Hutchings, who landed in New York in 1835 [10]
  • William E Hutchings, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [10]
  • Wood Hutchings, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hutchings Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. William E. Hutchings, (b. 1878), aged 27, Cornish stone cutter from Penryn, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 1st May 1905 en route to New York, USA [11]
  • Elizabeth Hutchings, who arrived in Alabama in 1921 [10]

Canada Hutchings migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hutchings Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Australia Hutchings migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hutchings Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Hutchings, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia [13]
  • Mr. James Hutchings who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
  • Miss Hannah Hutchings, (Hutchins), (b. 1803), aged 20, English house maid who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 20th November 1823, arriving in New South Wales, Australia and Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1864 [15]
  • Mr. John Hutchings, (b. 1803), aged 28, English printer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1839 [16]
  • Abraham Hutchings, English convict from Sussex, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [17]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hutchings migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hutchings Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Isaac Hutchings, (b. 1846), aged 20, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 5th January 1867 [18]
  • Robert Hutchings, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
  • Ellen Hutchings, aged 23, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
  • Arthur W. Hutchings, aged 5, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
  • Eleanor Hutchings, aged 3, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hutchings (post 1700) +

  • Brigadier-General Henry Jr. Hutchings (1892-1963), American Division Engineer, Southwestern Division (1946-1949) [19]
  • James Mason Hutchings (1820-1902), American businessman and one of the principal promoters of what is now Yosemite National Park
  • Timothy Hutchings (b. 1974), American visual artist
  • Jeffrey A. Hutchings FRSC (1958-2022), Canadian fisheries scientist born in Orillia, Ontario who was a professor of biology, and the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Chair in Fish, Fisheries, and Oceans at Dalhousie University
  • Geoffrey Hutchings (1939-2010), British actor from stage, movies and television
  • Arthur James Bramwell Hutchings (1906-1989), British professor of music at the University of Durham
  • Christopher "Chris" Hutchings (b. 1957), English former footballer and a manager
  • Kenneth Lotherington Hutchings (1882-1916), English cricketer
  • Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882-1945), American professor and scientist, one of the "fathers of modern rocketry," eponym of the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), a major NASA space research laboratory in Greenbelt, Maryland
  • Philip Hutchings Rogers (1786-1853), English painter, born at Plymouth

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Leslie W R Hutchings (b. 1911), English Painter 3rd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [20]
HMS Royal Oak
  • William K. Hutchings, British Signalman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [21]


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  12. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  13. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  17. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Henry Hutchings. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hutchings/Henry_Jr./USA.html
  20. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  21. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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